We have to do Mutch better on the road

JORDON Mutch wants to put his two-month injury frustrations to one side to help fire-up the Bluebirds’ away form.

JORDON Mutch wants to put his two-month injury frustrations to one side to help fire-up the Bluebirds’ away form.

And the midfield ace says there’s no reason why City’s wretched record on the road can’t come to a screeching halt this weekend as he eyes a comeback at Barnsley.

Mutch, the £2m summer signing from Birmingham, had been hailed for his centre-of-the-park influence at the start of the season after manager Malky Mackay put his faith in the 20-year-old’s partnership with Peter Whittingham.

But a nagging nerve problem in his foot sidelined the England Under 21 cap and cost Mackay some of the balance he had found in the Bluebirds’ midfield.

But after coming through more than an hour of a City development fixture in midweek – where he bagged a well-taken goal to underline his recovery – Mutch declared himself fit, feeling good and prepared to fight for his place ahead of the trip to Oakwell.

“It’s been a long time coming for me,” said Mutch, out since the middle of September with what he described as a painful nerve problem that affected the underside of his foot. “I had to make sure I was right with it and I was thankful to be able to get back out on a pitch and have an hour to get some fitness back.

“But I managed 60 minutes with no problems and I’ll be back into training putting myself out there to be selected. I’d hope to be part of things but if it happens, it happens.

“I’d even play in defence the way we’re short of bodies there, as long as I can be part of the team looking to keep us on a run and up there at the top end of the league then I’d be happy.”

Although he admits watching Cardiff at home has left him impressed – citing the weekend win over Boro in particular – no-one can pretend witnessing City’s away run has been pretty.

In fact, since Mutch’s last appearance before the injury in the 2-0 win at Millwall, Cardiff have only managed one victory on the road while losing four.

But with the Bluebirds boosted by both Mutch’s return and that excellent home double over promotion-chasing pair Hull and Boro, the Birmingham boy is right to question why a trip to the struggling Tykes shouldn’t be a possible end to the issues away from home.

“It’s got to change some time so, for me, there’s no reasons why it can’t change on Saturday,” said Mutch.

“It’s been good watching the boys win and the way they performed on Saturday was great stuff. At the same time it’s been frustrating for me to have not been involved just because there’s nothing more I enjoy doing than playing and I’ve not been able to do that.

“But I feel fine after the game in midweek. I’m looking to get fitter and hopefully I could be involved in some way on Saturday and hopefully our luck can change away from home.”

With Barnsley having failed to win in their last six Oakwell outings, both Mutch and his City team-mates will have good reason to be optimistic for their Yorkshire trip.

But his lay-off – after a career that has already had its fair share of injuries – will no doubt mean Mutch will be taking little for granted.

Cardiff had struggled to get to the bottom of Mutch’s complaints before support inside his boot led the way to his return to action, and Mutch said: “It was a bit tricky to solve but the nerve was inflamed and it was quite painful and irritating so we needed to try and find a way to sort it out.

“In the end it was changing my insoles that really helped because it took the pressure off a certain area. It’s nothing major but it’s worked well and hopefully I can show that in the next couple of days.”

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